Mercy Installs Pet/CT Diagnostic Imaging System Onsite

Jan 15, 2009

Mercy Installs Pet/CT Diagnostic Imaging System Onsite

Topic: Not Available | Contact: Cindy Hickey

Canton, Ohio: Mercy Medical Center was the first in the area to offer PET/CT scans via mobile service and now is the only facility between Cleveland and Columbus to offer PET/CT scans daily and on site. With the acquisition of a Philips GEMINI TruFlight (TF) PET/CT system, patients have rapid access to onsite testing so physicians can make more accurate evaluations and develop more targeted treatment plans.

PET/CT is a powerful diagnostic approach, which combines Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography (CT) imaging technologies in one scanner. A series of X-rays taken along the length of the body, CT scans produce images similar to organ cross-sections, revealing the location, size and shape of various lesions. Conversely, PET scans look for disease in the body by revealing how the organs and tissues are functioning. Using radioactive sugar injections, PET scans detect metabolic activity, which can reveal disease states before structural damage is evident.

“We’re very pleased to be able to offer our patients this important advancement in diagnostic imaging,” said Mark DeGalan, M.D., section chief of Nuclear Medicine at Mercy Medical Center. “Our PET/CT system will allow the hospital to improve their commitment and service to cancer patients throughout the Stark County area.”

PET/CT has been shown to provide exceptional performance for many applications, including oncology, cardiology and brain imaging. The most common applications of PET in cancer patients are for aiding diagnosis when other tests are inconclusive, staging the extent of cancer, and detecting recurrent disease before it escalates or spreads.

The GEMINI TF is particularly patient-friendly. Physicians can acquire diagnostic CT, PET or PET/CT images from just one non-invasive scan. With TruFlight time-of-flight technology, whole body PET exams are faster than ever before – in some cases, requiring 10 minutes or less. And, the system features a unique open structure that promotes patient comfort and allows staff to interact with the patient during the scan.

“Some patients are apprehensive about the full enclosure of a traditional imaging gantry, so the Philips PET/CT is a huge improvement toward helping patients relax and feel more comfortable,” said Brian Shaughnessy, chief nuclear medicine technologist at Mercy Medical Center. “We find that patients really appreciate being able to see and talk to our technologists while they are on the table. And with the speed of time-of-fight image processing, patients are often surprised that they're not on the table very long.”

Judy Hadam, administrative director of radiology at Mercy Medical Center adds, “As a hospital, we are committed to providing quality and compassionate care for our patients. We all know someone who has been affected by this disease, and we are proud to offer this level of care here at home in Stark County.”

About Mercy Medical Center

Mercy Medical Center, a nonprofit corporation of the Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals Health System, operates a 476-bed hospital serving Stark, Carroll, Wayne, Holmes and Tuscarawas Counties and parts of Southeastern Ohio. It has 550 physicians on its Medical Staff and employs 2,500 people. Mercy operates outpatient health centers in Carrollton, Jackson Township, Lake Township, Louisville, North Canton and Plain Township. A Catholic hospital, Mercy Medical Center upholds the mission and philosophy of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and continues to be responsive to the needs of the community, including the provision of care to all, regardless of their ability to pay. For more information, see www.cantonmercy.com.

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lifestyle and technology, delivering products, services and solutions through the brand promise of “sense and simplicity.” Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 121,700 people in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27 billion in 2006, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, personal care and home appliances, as well as consumer electronics. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.